Getting to Know Your Integrity Server

Entering Commands at Integrity Server Console Interfaces

When entering commands for the Integrity server, if you press Delete on a VTxxx terminal (or press the key you have mapped to send the DEL/RUBOUT character code in your terminal emulator), the last character typed might not be deleted. The firmware on Integrity servers where that unexpected behavior occurs uses Ctrl/H to delete the last character typed. On such Integrity servers, you can remap your terminal to use Ctrl/H instead of DEL/RUBOUT, as described in Section .

Integrity Server Tools

Integrity servers include multiple interfaces for working with various aspects of the server or server complex. The Management Processor (MP) is available on most Integrity servers. Many entry-class Integrity servers now come with the Integrated Lights Out (iLO) MP (Integrity iLO 2 MP), which provides a complete remote console experience, including a web-based graphical user interface and the functionality provided by vMedia. MP and Integrity iLO provide a service interface that allows access to all hardware and, in a complex, all nPartitions. The MP is always available, even when the main power source is turned off (MP can operate on standby power). On cell-based servers (such as rx7620, rx8620, and Superdome), MP is available whether or not nPartitions are configured or booted in the server complex. You can navigate from MP to and from the operating system (if it is booted).

The Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) provides support for operating system loaders and allows you to configure the firmware and control the booting environment. EFI is accessible only when the operating system is not booted. On cell-based servers, each nPartition has a separate EFI console interface. EFI provides support for managing nPartitions. The EFI interface is available from an nPartition console only when the nPartition is in an active state but has not booted an operating system.

You can move from the EFI interface to MP and back again. Similarly, you can move from MP to the operating system and back.

Virtual Connect (VC) on HP BladeSystem c-Class Enclosures

HP Virtual Connect (VC) is a set of interconnect modules and embedded software available for HP BladeSystem c-Class enclosures. VC simplifies the setup and administration of server connections. Where most server interconnect choices come with compromises such as too many cables or too much to manage, VC reduces the number of network cables and simplifies management while adding the unique ability to wire everything once, then add, replace or recover servers in minutes instead of hours or days.

VC is enabled with a choice of Ethernet and Fibre Channel modules designed for the HP BladeSystem. The built-in HP Virtual Connect manager defines a server connection profile for each server bay—even before a server is installed. This profile establishes the Media Access Control (MAC) addresses for all Network Interface Controllers (NICs), the World Wide Names (WWNs) for all Host Bus Adapters (HBAs), and the SAN boot parameters. The profile then holds them constant so that even if the server is changed, the configuration and connection profile stay constant. When a new server takes its place, the same profile is assigned.

For more information about VC, select the Virtual Connect networking link at the following website:

http://www.hp.com/go/bladesystem/virtualconnect

In addition, see the HP Virtual Connect for c-Class BladeSystem User's Guide, available at the following location:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00865618/c00865618.pdf

Cell-Based Server Terminology

A cell-based server—such as the HP rx7620, rx8720, or Superdome server—is a hardware complex that can run one or more operating systems and that supports dividing hardware resources into nPartitions. Thus, it enables you to configure a complex into one large system or into several smaller systems.

All processors and memory are contained in cells, each of which can be assigned for exclusive use by an nPartition. An nPartition defines a subset of the server hardware resources that is used as an independent system environment. An nPartition has its own EFI system boot interface and each nPartition boots and reboots independently. Each nPartition provides both hardware and software isolation so that hardware or software faults in one nPartition do not affect other nPartitions within the same server complex.

By using HP software-based nPartition management tools, you can configure nPartition definitions for a server without physically modifying the server hardware configuration. The main administration tools for nPartitions are the Partition Manager, which provides a graphical interface, and the nPartition Commands, which provides a command-line interface. Versions of these interfaces are provided on HP-UX, Linux®, and Microsoft® Windows® systems. The nPartition Commands tool is also available on Linux systems. MP and EFI can also perform nPartition administrative tasks. Slightly different tool sets and capabilities are available on different server models. For more information, see your hardware documentation. In addition, see the nPartition Administrator's Guide (previously titled HP System Partitions Guide: Administration for nPartitions).

Getting Started: Main Steps After You Unpack Your Integrity Server

When you unpack your Integrity server, the main steps for getting OpenVMS up and running are those listed in Table 1-2. As indicated in the third column, some of the instructions are provided in this manual. However, for the most up-to-date information specific to your Integrity server model and version, always refer to the hardware documentation provided for your Integrity server.

After the initial boot, you need not use EFI to configure boot options. You can configure EFI boot options while OpenVMS is running by using the OpenVMS I64 Boot Manager (SYS$MANAGER:BOOT_OPTIONS.COM), as explained in Section . This utility is easier to use than EFI and allows you to configure the most pertinent options for your system. In addition, the OpenVMS installation (and upgrade) procedure can assist you in establishing and validating boot options for your system disk.